(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne says around 100 cities in the country have stopped selling cigarettes and the number will increase to 200 in another year.
Addressing the 83rd Annual General Meeting of the Public Health Inspector’s Union of Sri Lanka on Sunday, Minister Senaratne said as the Health Minister he has taken many measures to control cigarette smoking and tobacco use and the Public Health Inspector immensely support his measures.
The Minister said the continued support given by the public health inspectors to implement his policies in preventing people from smoking should be appreciated.
Minister Senaratne requesting not to promote cigarettes and tobacco sales said some cities in the country have stopped selling the tobacco products.
He said some cities advertise as a city free of alcohol and cigarettes and the Public health inspectors have committed to creating such a situation.
The Minister noted that there are about 100 cities throughout the country that have stopped selling cigarettes and by the next anniversary of the public health inspectors’ union he expects the number will increase to 200.
Also, the tobacco company has reported a drop in sales of 1 billion cigarettes due to new measures, he said.
Minister Senaratne said the World Health Organization has also appreciated Sri Lanka’s anti-tobacco program and Sri Lanka is the only country that has taken such measures according to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
